Spindle for use in spinning frames and twisters



June 11, 1963 A. TERPAK 3,092,954

SPINDLE FOR USE IN SPINNING FRAMES AND TWISTERS Filed June 15, 1961 22 T 24 j r 46 Z 26 I O a I5 I f 23 l4 3o 5 FIG. 3 32 4 \24 W i 28 H I if n :2; IO

34 2O 32 ANTHONY TERPAK //vv/vr0/? BY cw; 1.20/12 ATTORNEY 3,092,954 Patented June 11, 1963 3,692,954 SPKNDLE FOR USE m SPHJNTNG FRAMES AND TWHTER Anthony Terpak, Assonet, Mass. Modern flastics Engineering Corp., North Ave., Taunton, Mass.) Filed June 15, 1961, Ser. No. 117,313 6 Claims. (61. 57-134)) This invention relates to spindles for use in spinning frames and twisters for making yarn packages, and particularly a spindle of increased size, strength and lightness, which may be rotated and spun at increased rates of speed, with consequently reduced costs in making yarn packages.

It has been the constant effort and endeavor of the textile industry in recent years to reduce the costs of manufacturing yarn in every way possible, and to this end spindles have been increased in length and size, with consequently increased length and size of the yarn package wound on such spindles. But the increased length and size of the spindle and the yarn package wound thereon have introduced problems in spinning and twisting, which have placed definite limitations on the size of yarn package which can be successfully wound, and on the speed at which the spindles can be rotated.

I have successfully overcome these limitations, particularly as to the speed of rotation of the spindles, by developing a light weight spindle of great strength, with its mass concentrated at its vertical or longitudinal axis and wit-h a lighter outer ci-rcumferencewhich permits yarn packages of uniform size and shape and construction to be wound at greatly increased speeds.

Briefly, my spindle comprises a metal blade forming the central longitudinal core of the spindle and extending the length thereof, and having a barrel of light weight plastic material moulded directly to the blade, with the plastic barrel having an enlarged sleeve portion formed adjacent its lower end for loosely centering the yarn carrier thereon and having a driving whorl of more increased diameter formed at its lower end, below the sleeve portion. It will be understood that the spindle supports a yarn carrier, such as a paper, fiber or plastic tube on which the yarn package is spun, and which can be readily dofied from the spindle when the yarn package is completed.

The important advantages of my spindle are its lightness and its capacity for greatly increased speed of rotation, with lower cost of manufacture and substantially lower spinning costs. With my spindles, the speed of rotation of the spindles can be increased from the 8000 to 12,000 rpm. range, to the 25,000 to 26,000 rpm. range, thereby at least doubling spinning production. This reduces spinning costs from 25 to 50% on the smaller sizes of yarn packages, to as low as of present costs on the larger sizes. The lighter spindle further reduces power costs, an important item in spinning. A limiting factor heretofore to higher speeds of rotation of the heavier spindles has been vibration. My light weight spindle, with its heavier weight mass concentrated on the central longitudinal axis of the spindle, and lighter weight of the plastic at the circumference thereof, improves the dynamic balance of the spindle and presents the ideal condition for high speed rotation, with diminished vibration. The moulding of the plastic barrel, sleeve portion and driving whorl in one piece and moulding the barrel to the central metal blade in effect provides a one-piece construction of the entire spindle, which greatly increases the stability of my spindle when rotating at high speeds. Another important advantage of my spindle is that it can be moulded in varying sizes and lengths and can be used with adapters to fit yarn carriers of many varying sizes and lengths, which permit its use for practically all requirements of spinning and twisting, with differing diameter spinning rings to take care of traveler angles.

Other advantages of my improved spindle will appear in the following specification, and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of my improved spindle; FIG. 2. is a horizontal section on line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of my spindle as used on a spinning frame, with the yarn tube shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my spindle adapted for use in a spinning or twisting frame, and which includes a base 10, which may be secured in a ring rail or other supporting structure 11 by a clamping nut 12. The base it} may be provided with the usual oil tube 14 and doffer guard 15.

The rotating element of my improved spindle includes a longitudinally extending metal blade 20, preferably of steel, and preferably round and straight sided for dynamic balance, which constitute the central longitudinal core of my spindle, and which extends the entire length of the spindle. It is preferably pointed at the bottom to center it for rotation in the base 10, and it may have a beveled top as shown in FIG. 1. A barrel 22 of suitable light weightplastic material, such as nylon, styrene and the like, is then mouldeddirectly to the blade 20. As such plastic shrinks in setting, it grips the blade 20 in such a tight bond, that it forms practically a solid onepiece spindle construction with the blade 20. The barrel 22 is also preferably round and straight-sided, i.e. with its side parallel to that of blade 20, except at its top and bottom. The barrel 22 at its lower end then tapers outwardly and enlarges into tapered side 23 and sleeve portion or acorn 24, which again is straight-sided, with sides parallel to those of the blade 20. But it will be understood that the sleeve portion 24 can be gradually tapered outwardly to the dimension shown, if desired, without departing from my invention. The purpose of the enlarged sleeve portion 24- is to loosely center the lower end of the tube T, or yarn carrier on which the yarn package is formed, as shown in FIG. 3, to permit easy doffing of the tube T and the yarn package wound thereon. It is obvious that a tapered enlarged sleeve portion 24 is equally satisfactory for this purpose. Normally it will be understood that the tube T engages the spindle only at its top for ease of dofiing, and does not engage the spindle at its bottom, being only loosely centered thereon, as indicated in FIG. 3. At its lower end the sleeve portion 24 then flares into the enlarged tapered bell portion 26, the bottom shoulder 28 of which forms the upper flange of the whorl 30, where the spindle is driven from the driving belt (not shown) of the spinning frame. The bottom flange 32 forms the lower guide of the whorl for the driving belt.

Preferably the entire lower enlarged sleeve portion of the spindle, parts 23, 24 and 26, is strengthened and reinforced by a plurality of longitudinal ribs 34 which engage t-he blade '20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The top end of the blade 20 is preferably protected and reinforced with a steel band 36, known as the top metal drive, which is provided to protect and add additional resistance to wear from engagement with the inside top of the tube T. It will be understood that the tube T normally engages the barrel 22 only at the top portion protected by themetal band 36.

Preferably adjacent the middle portion of the barrel 22 four radial slots 40 are provided in the plastic barrel 22, separated by ribs 42. These slots 40 are formed in the moulding portions by metal spacers which extend inwardly from the sides of the barrel mould, to engage the steel blade 20, and are provided for the purpose of holding the blade 2%) rigidly, and to prevent its deflection from bending from the pressure of the plastic material being forced around it, and thus to preserve the dynamic balance of the spindle.

i In FIG. 3 a conventional textile tube T forming the yarn carrier is shown as normally mounted on my spindle. The tube T is made of paper, fibre, plastic or other suitable material, and gradually tapers outwardly :from top to bottom, for ease of dofiing when the yarn package is formed on the tube T. The tube T normally includes a metal reinforcing band 44 at the topand another band 46 at the bottom. As stated above, the tube T normally engages the spindle only at the top at the metal band 36, and otherwise fits loosely over the sleeve-portion 24 of the spindle, and is centered thereby.

It will be understood of course that the spindle, including the blade 20, barrel 22, sleeve portion 24 and driving whorl 30 will vary in length and diameter to cover all requirements of normal spinning and twisting machines. While the spinning frames, and the range of tubes and yarn carriers used thereon may vary, the length and diameter of spindle used would similarly vary. Likewise the steel blade20 may have varying dimensions as required, and tapers at the bottom end to fit either ball bearing or roller bearing bolsters of the spinning frames. It will be further understood that by the use of adapters supported on the barrel :22 of my spindle, my spindle may be used to fit yarn carriers of many varying sizes and lengths .which permit it to fill practically allrequirements of spinning and twisting.

it is apparent that multiplications and variations may be made in my spindle without departing from my invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details disclosed herein, otherwise than as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spindle for supporting and roating a tubular yarn carrier, comprising a metal blade forming the longitudinal central core of the spindle, and a cylindrical barrel of light weight plastic material moulded directly to the blade, said barrel having a driving whorl formed at its lower end.

2. A spindle for supporting and rotating a tubular yarn carrier comprising a metal blade forming the longitudinal central core of the spindle and extending the length thereof, a cylindrical barrel of light Weight plastic material moulded directly to the blade, and a driving whorl of enlarged diameter formed at the lower end of said barrel.

3. A spindle as in claim 1 in which said barrel has an enlarged sleeve portion formed adjacent its lower end for loosely centering the yarn carrier thereon.

4. A spindle for supporting and rotating a tubular yarn carrier, comprising a metal blade forming the longitudinal central core of the spindle and extending the length thereof, a cylindrical barrel of light weight plastic material moulded directly to the blade, said bar-rel having a sleeve portion of enlarged diameter for-med adjacent its lower end for loosely centering the yarn carrier thereon, and a driving whorlformed on the lower end of said barrel.

5. A spindle as in claim 4, in which said cylindrical barrel and driving whorl are provided with longitudinally extending radial ribs engaging the metal blade.

6. A spindle as in claim 4 in which said plastic barrel is reinforced with a metallic band at its upper end for engaging the tubular yarn carrier thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES P TENTS 

1. A SPINDLE FOR SUPPORTING AND ROTATING A TUBULAR YARN CARRIER, COMPRISING A METAL BLADE FORMING THE LONGITUDINAL CENTRAL CORE OF THE SPINDLE, AND A CYLINDRICAL BARREL OF LIGHT WEIGHT PLASTIC MATERIAL MOULDED DIRECTLY TO THE BLADE, SAID BARREL HAVING A DRIVING WHORL FORMED AT ITS LOWER END. 